Pray with Blessed Alvaro: “Where Peter is, there the Church is”
“Whoever he is; tall or short, fat or thin, from this country or that one, he is Peter.” Let’s accompany our new pope, Leo XIV, guided by the words of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo a few days before his liturgical memorial.
Biography and Vocation of Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV (United States, 1955) was born in Chicago. On 30 January 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis on 30 September 2023. On 8 May 2025, with the name Leo XIV, he was elected the 267th Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
“Thank you, my God, for that love for the Pope you have placed in my heart”
Here are some of the notes in which Saint Josemaría described his affection for the Pope.
Ana Cecilia, Brazil: "I discovered that my dream could be multiplied"
From her childhood in Curitiba to her commitment to Opus Dei, Ana Cecília has travelled a path of self-discovery. Through medicine and her relationship with God, she found her purpose: to transform lives and fulfil her dream of motherhood by serving others.
Loyalty to the Church
In this homily from "In Love with the Church," Saint Josemaria reflects on our love for our mother the Church and trust in the Holy Spirit.
Life-Giving Water: Holy Water
The custom of using holy water is a sacramental sign that reminds us of our Baptism and helps sanctify daily life. Making the sign of the cross with it at the end of the day or when entering a church is an expression of our desire for purification and spiritual protection, trusting in God’s grace.
Rodrigo and Mariana: "It's not about drawing lines"
Rodrigo and Mariana reflect on the everyday challenges every couple faces. Their faith leads them to see marriage not only as an earthly commitment, but as a vocation that leads them closer to Heaven.
Our Lady of Peace: Prelatic Church of Opus Dei
On 2 May 1986, Bl. Alvaro del Portillo celebrated the dedication ceremony of the prelatic church of Our Lady of Peace. This is the Marian invocation to which the prelatic church of Opus Dei in Rome is dedicated, and it is the place where St. Josemaría Escrivá's mortal remains repose.
Biography of Rev. Antoni Pujals
Rev. Antoni Pujals i Ginebreda was born in Terrassa, Spain, in 1955. Ordained a priest in Rome in 1985, he was the Vicar General of the Prelature from 2019 to 2025.
Biography of M. Julia Prats
M. Julia Prats was born in Terrassa (Spain) in 1964. She is an industrial engineer, with a doctorate in Business Administration, and a professor specializing in entrepreneurship and innovation. She has been Central Secretary of Opus Dei since April 2025.